Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

I installed two toilets myself in my house, one use Wax and one use the "High-tech" non-wax ring.... the non-wax toilet works fine so far... the wax one somehow has very minor leak on the floor, it is so minor that I didn't realize it leaking for over month's of usage... I know... like my wife said, why don't you just hire a "plumber" to do the insta....etc.etc... anyhow, I am going to replace it myself again rather than calling plumbing.... anyhow... after removing the toilet and let the floor completely dry ... I need to replace the ring... this time I try to use the "High-tech" non-wax ring... thinking may be that is the reason... not to blame wax ring... may be DIYer should use the "high-tech" one as it is fool proof....

well so what do the expect say here? wax or non-wax is better?

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Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

Personally, I'll take a good ol fashioned wax ring anyday. I also don't really like the horned donuts. I prefer a plain ol wax ring, unless the closet flange is slightly below the floor height for some reason, installed poorly or new tile height, then I might go for the horned.

Some say The horn prevents a good wax seal, others are worried about catching an auger on it. I personally just think KISS Keep It Simple Stupid is the best moddo.

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Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

I also heard the famous wisdom "Tradition is most of the time better than new stuff".... in this case ... may be the pipe is a bit low though... making me want to try the non-wax type ... as the wax type fail ... I know may be it is somthing else completely causing the leak... but just give this as a possiblility.... so I bought the non-wax type from HD.... all I want to hear from a plumbing expect now is : go ahead... use the non-wax.. they are fine and solid... rather than somthing like " don't use them they are crab"...etc.... before my move tonight...

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

The issue here is not the material the ring is made of. The issue is actually how you set the toilet on the flange. They recommend that you lay the toilet on its side beside the flange and place the seal on the toilet bottom. The problem that I experience most is not being able to see the bolts line up with the holes and it kicks the toilet to the side and makes for a poor fit. Now the seal is worthless.

The way I have solved this problem is to run a nut down on the bolts and secure it to the flange before I set the toilet. This holds the bolts in place and straight up and down. Then I use a seal with an extension. (wouldn't have to but somehow feel better about it) then place the seal over the flange and then set the toilet over the seal and protruding bolts then use the regular washer and nut to secure the toilet to the flange.
Works for me.

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

Yes, I remember I didn't follow the instruction either by put the seal under the bottom of the toilet last time either... too difficult as it kind of not sticking onto it... instead i just lay it on the flange...

now with your approach, how do you determine the position of the bolts? should they go all the way to the end.... ? I remember last time, I didn't pay attention to that... just make sure the bolt can line up with the toilet somehow... may be it is off the hole a little bit.. causing the leak... but then how do I see if it line up... unless it is an industry standard that the bolt should go all the way to the end ....

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

Keeo in mind that it is not always the wax seal that is leaking. I have had two defective toilets in the last year and a half that have had internal cracks in the casting. Not fom overtightening the bolts, but way up inside the bottom of the toilet. Reset each of them three times before i figured out they were bad toilets.

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

On 2-bolt toilets, the bolts go at 3 and 9 o'clock in relation to the flange hole, and the bolts can be held straight up in place with a bit of old wax ring or by the nuts method as described by jdoherty. I use both methods, and either will work.
A toilet flange should be flush on top of the finished floor level with only the thickness of the flange above finished floor level. If it is too low, it can be raised in various ways (mechaincially, or with extenders, or double wax rings, etc.).
I've always used wax rings, but I've been told that the new types work well, too.
Your call.
Good Luck! Mike

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

under the asumption you have an abs flange and not an old lead flange if the flange is low I would use a flange spacer then a normal thicknes wax ring with or without plastic horn. But, you could also double the wax using a single wax with no horn on top of the first one.

As stated by send it all above I have seen defective toilets in use for years before spotting any leaks. There is a injection hole on the bottom of the bowl that will look like it has been caulked over. These can leak very slowly and wont show for a while.

In my opinion use wax, the only place I use something other than wax is wall hung tiolets and urinals. Then I use a neoprene gasket.

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

Thanks for all the advice and information... If a toilet is defective...i.e. leak... is it always be able to be spot by eye if carefully looking? anyhow... I am going to try this installation then see what happen... if it leak again... I will go to HD to negotiate with them because this is a very expensive toilet I bought from them, together with the water tank, is more expensive than my beatiful solid wood $400 coffee table... this is the top of the line enviromental elongated high tech flush master American Standard model.... I will expect seating on it like driving a Lexus...

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

I have not tried the new seals because I have never had a problem with the "tried and true" wax seals. I make sure the toilet bottom and flange are clean, install the bolts, set the wax seal on the flange and squish a small amount of the seal onto the bolts to hold them straight upright. Eyeball the bolts through the holes in the toilet base and sit straight down. I apply downward pressure to seat the toilet onto the seal. Snug bolts evenly. Although many pros will use a double seal, they can slide when installing the toilet. Better to either buy a flange extender or a thicker seal. Guess I am just too old to switch now.

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If you have never made a mistake, you haven't done much.

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

Thanks for the reply.... I anyhow... intall the non-wax type... I put the toilet on and pull water onto it... let it seat for a few days... before installing the water flushing system.... so far so good.... this arrangement is kind of by accident because I run out of nuts because I used the two extra nuts on the two veritcal stuff as suggested above... anyhow... will see later on...

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

I always buy the extra thick wax rings with the bell mouth molded into them. Since a toilet bowl ring is rarely changed, and since floors are very different (uneven, high, broken) and since closet flanges are often broken or weak and since toilet bowl holes differ slightly, I prefer to seat a good thick ring of wax with the extended bell mouth underneath them. I press the bowl down to seat the ring and squish it. That way, I know there's virtually no chance of seeping or leaking. With non-wax rings, there's always the off chance that seepage will occur at some point.

Which is better? WAX or Non-Wax toilet ring?

24hourapartments,

1) Saves maintenance and people playing with them.
2) The Sloan type valves used in commercial applications dump a large volume of water very quickly. This pretty much guarantees a full flush. No broken or stolen tank lids to worry about.
3) Same as a home toilet usually. They are either floor mounted or wall mounted and still have a wax or rubber ring to seal them. Wall hung also require a mounting bracket inside (tubular steel) the wall to assure it doesn't get torn off by weight applied.Unless the flush valve is banged around, they seldom leak. They have a diaphram inside with a weep-hole that sometimes clogs up, but it is a simple fix.
4) They are not cheap. Commercial grade is always more expensive. They are also sold only by dealers and not at HD or Lowes. The flush-valve and related piping is around $150. Then you pay for the commode.

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__________________
If you have never made a mistake, you haven't done much.